Hey Clementine,

Here’s a memory from my first few years at a job, back when I was so pathetic at work that even I wonder how did I end up where I am today.

The first year of my job was shameful. Even though I used to do all my work well, I had become infamous for falling asleep in the meetings. And while people were accommodating the first few times, it was not long before I got scolded. To be honest, I would myself not like someone sleeping if I were discussing something. But my body was out of control, shutting down my eyes and brain as soon as it found an opportunity.

So, I started researching about it, committed to solving the problem. Soon, I found out that I was doing everything opposite of what scientists suggested for alertness. Not only was I staying up till late at night, often partying and drinking, but I had also stopped taking naps. And naps were an important piece because I was used to sleeping in the afternoon during my college life.

I knew that sleeping early would be a slow shift, because my place had become a party hub, so I made the smallest change possible. The next day, I took an afternoon nap at work, good old head down on the desk. And even though I had to explain to many people that I was not sick, it was worth it.

From that day itself, my months-old problem of falling asleep in the meetings disappeared. In fact, many of my colleagues also started taking naps within a month. In retrospect, while I feel thankful that my team was accepting of my naps, I just wish if someone had told me earlier, as it could have saved some of my self-esteem in the first few months.

Anyway, as years passed by and I started managing a team of my own, I empathized with anyone feeling drowsy at work. So, I made sure that people around me felt comfortable taking naps. In fact, I went out of my way to tell the freshers about my early days and how they should take naps if they feel like it.

As I reflect upon this, I see a bigger lesson. For everything that we take for granted in our life, there was someone who had to do it for the first time, be it something as serious as fighting for equal rights or stupidly simple as me starting the nap culture back at work. And doing anything for the first time comes with a risk.

Whether the fear of failure holds us back from trying or not makes all the difference. The choice is ours.

I hope this inspires you to own your shortcomings as well and take the responsibility to help everyone around 😜